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There was impressive effectiveness about the way Roma handled this journey to Scotland. Without much drama. Roma from Italy’s capital did, however, face manageable rivals when putting their Europa League bid on the right path. There was a glaring gulf in quality between the Serie A outfit and a Rangers squad that has now lost a club record seven European games in a row.

To their credit, the home side at least huffed and puffed during a later period when surrender felt the more likely option. Yet, the match was settled as a competition by then. Rangers remain anchored at the foot of the Europa League, which should represent an embarrassment to a club of such stature. Roma have ambitions once more on achieving significant success. One slight disappointment in this match was in not producing a scoreline that truly reflected men against boys.

Surprisingly, this represented only the Roman club’s second-ever European joust with Scottish opposition since Fairs Cup business with Hibernian in 1961. The previous one, against the Terrors 23 years later, became overshadowed (to put it politely) by the corruption of a referee. Back then, Scottish clubs could vie with the top sides in the continent. The current campaign has seen the UEFA coefficient plunge to a point that will shortly have huge consequences.

Danny Röhl’s main quality so far as the Rangers support are concerned is that he isn’t Russell Martin. The latter’s dismal tenure as the head coach continued for 123 days in the initial phase of the campaign. Röhl, the recent appointment at the helm, has shown promise albeit within a tiny sample size. The dugouts witnessed a clash of generations; Röhl is thirty-six, his counterpart the Roma manager is 67.

Another element was far more striking as the sides took the field. The home team’s glaring short stature against the Italians looked ominous. This point was confirmed within the opening quarter-hour as Bryan Cristante comfortably redirected a set-piece at the front post. Following up, Matías Soulé sprinted into space to fire his team ahead. The visitors minus the injured their young striker and their star attacker, who have been questioned for lack of cutting edge despite reasonable results in the tournament, were delighted with their early advantage.

The Ibrox side should have levelled matters immediately. Rather, Youssef Chermiti sent his effort off target after a defensive error in the Roma defence. The player’s eight-million-pound purchase from Everton has piled pressure on the Rangers transfer hierarchy. Chermiti possesses at least the physical attributes to be an effective striker but appears unwilling or unable to utilize them fully.

Roma controlled first-half possession thereafter. They extended their advantage through Lorenzo Pellegrini, whose curling shot into the far post of the goalkeeper’s net came after a lay off from the Ukrainian forward. Rangers will lament the fact the midfielder stood in blissful isolation but it was a superb finish. Ibrox, typically a boisterous place on continental evenings, had been silenced with time still remaining before the break. The discontent which met the interval were subdued; Rangers were simply in the midst of being outclassed.

The second period started against a unusual atmosphere. Those Rangers fans turned their attentions once again towards the club’s chief executive, Patrick Stewart, and sporting director, Kevin Thelwell. Two banners, obviously sinister in tone, depicted the pair with bullseyes on their faces. One wonders what the Rangers chairman makes of all this. Ultimately, Andrew Cavenagh enjoyed an anonymous life as a successful businessman in the US before fronting a acquisition of this club. Paying punters have not targeted Cavenagh so far but there is a rebellious mood in the air. It is one which is easy to understand; Rangers’ management is wholly unimpressive.

Right on cue, the striker was played in on the keeper on the hour mark and found only the side netting. This actually triggered the home side’s best period of the game, in which their substitute the young midfielder shot narrowly past the post. It was, however, difficult to determine Roma’s continued offensive intent until the full-back was given a opportunity all of a yard out which he somehow hit up and on to the underside of the crossbar.

That was it as far as clear-cut chances were concerned. The series of substitutions from each side resulted in this game closed more in the style of a pre-season friendly than serious contest. This of course suited the Italians perfectly. It prompted reflection to consider how on earth the Glasgow club, finalists in this tournament in 2022 and strong enough of the quarter-finals a last year, reached the stage of just participating.